Dog tags are an iconic symbol of military service. The small metallic tags worn around the necks of soldiers provide critical identification information in the event of injury or death in combat. But what exactly happens to a soldier’s dog tags if he or she is killed in action? Here is a comprehensive overview of the procedures, history, and significance of dog tags after a soldier’s death.
Dog Tag Recovery
When a soldier is killed in combat, the recovery of his or her dog tags is a top priority. Fellow soldiers will make every effort to locate and retrieve the dog tags from the deceased before the remains are evacuated. If the body is severely damaged or unrecoverable, the on-site commander will try to recover the dog tags from the vicinity of the incident. Retrieving dog tags from the battlefield ensures that the fallen soldier can be positively identified and accounted for.
If dog tags cannot be immediately recovered, every effort will be made to conduct grid searches of the area at a later time to locate them. However, given the challenges of war zones, dog tags are sometimes irretrievable. When no tags are found, other methods of identification must be relied upon to identify remains. These can include forensic dental examinations, DNA testing, fingerprinting, or other techniques.
Handling of Recovered Dog Tags
Once retrieved from the field, the dog tags go through the following process:
- One tag stays with the soldier’s remains as they are transported to the mortuary affairs unit.
- The second dog tag is returned to the administrative headquarters.
- The administrative tag is used to report the soldier’s death and assist with notifying the next of kin.
Keeping one dog tag with the soldier’s body ensures positive identification throughout the repatriation process. The other provides critical data to support official death notifications and record-keeping.
Notification of Next of Kin
The administrative dog tag returned from the field provides key information for the notification of the deceased soldier’s next of kin. The tag displays the service member’s name, social security number, blood type, and religion. Using this information, the Department of Defense follows a series of steps to notify and assist the next of kin:
- The soldier’s unit locates family contact information and addresses from personnel records.
- The military notifies the next of kin in person, whenever possible, through a Casualty Notification Officer and Chaplain.
- The next of kin receives additional details, including date/place of death, and circumstances surrounding it.
- The military provides information packets on mortuary affairs assistance, benefits, and support resources.
- Transportation assistance is arranged for the next of kin if desired to be present at the burial.
Having the soldier’s dog tag accelerates this notification process and provides vital data to deliver to the family.
Identification of Remains
Throughout the repatriation process, the soldier’s dog tag remains with the body to enable positive identification. When remains are returned to the United States, the tag stays with the casket during transit to the mortuary facility. It accompanies the remains during:
- Initial intake processing
- X-rays & dental examinations
- DNA sampling
- Autopsy procedures
- Preparation for burial
At each step, the dog tag provides an additional form of identification verification along with visual recognition and scientific testing. This ensures the correct identification is maintained and avoids the possibility of remains being misidentified, mixed up, or lost.
Example Dog Tag Accompanying Process
Here is an example of how a dog tag would remain with a soldier’s body throughout the repatriation process:
- Dog tag is recovered from field by fellow soldiers
- One tag remains with soldier’s body, another sent to admin HQ
- Body is transported to regional mortuary for processing
- Tag stays with body during intake, storage, and identification
- Remains prepared for burial with dog tag still attached
- Tag accompanies body during transportation to funeral home
- Tag removed just prior to cremation or interment and given to next of kin
Release to Family
Once the remains have arrived at the final funeral site, the accompanying identification tag is removed. The family may request to keep it as a remembrance of their loved one. Otherwise, the tag becomes part of the soldier’s service record stored by military archival services. If the family keeps the tag, it is usually placed in the casket before burial or cremation.
Though heartbreaking for families, safeguarding and returning the dog tag provides a sense of closure. This final symbolic gesture concludes the soldier’s military service.
Historical Background
Dog tags have been used by the military for over a century to provide identification on the battlefield. Here is a brief overview of their history and evolution:
- Civil War: Some soldiers handmade identification tags from materials like wood, coins, or paper.
- 1906: The US Army mandated aluminum discs worn as ID tags for the first time.
- 1913: Regulations specified circular tags with notches and ball chains.
- 1940s: Design shifted to oval shape with stamped info and beaded chain.
- 1960s: Tags became commonly called “dog tags” in popular vernacular.
- 21st Century: Digital chips, barcodes, and other tech added to tags.
The enduring tradition of dog tags remains an iconic part of military culture and an essential method of battlefield identification.
Significance of Dog Tags
A soldier’s dog tags have deep personal and military significance. For families, receiving a loved one’s dog tag after death carries enormous emotional weight. The tag symbolizes courage, commitment, and service. More broadly for the military, dog tags represent duty, sacrifice, and the sobering cost of war. Their extensive procedures for dog tag recovery and repatriation underscore the military’s pledge to never leave a fallen comrade behind.
Personal Meaning
For many family members, possessing their loved one’s dog tag is profoundly meaningful. It becomes a cherished memento and connection to someone they cared for deeply. The tag provides a tangible reminder of talents, hopes, and human potential lost to war’s toll. Spouses, parents, and children often display or wear the tag to memorialize their personal loss.
Military Significance
On a broader level, the return of a soldier’s dog tag carries military significance. Each tag symbolizes an individual life and service to country. Thousands of these tags represent the scale of tragedy, sacrifice, and costs of military conflict. Recovery and repatriation procedures reflect the military’s solemn pledge to account for all fallen, no matter how difficult. This promise brings purpose and meaning to the loss of each life.
Conclusion
The procedures surrounding a soldier’s dog tags after death underscore their importance as identification and symbols of service. Recovery from the battlefield, processes for notifying families, and release to loved ones bring closure. On a personal level for families, receiving a soldier’s dog tag memorializes their individual sacrifice. For the military, respectful handling of dog tags represents a commitment to leave no one behind and commemorate all who have paid the ultimate price. The simple, rugged dog tag remains an iconic reminder of courage, duty, and remembrance.